[NFBOH-Cleveland] National Convention First Timer's Guide
Suzanne Turner
smturner.234 at gmail.com
Fri Apr 21 13:51:25 UTC 2023
First Timer's Guide
article
Welcome to your first convention of the National Federation of the Blind. We
hope that you find the convention fast-paced, fascinating, and fun, and that
it won't be your last.
Throughout the week, you will have amazing opportunities to network with
thousands of competent, blind role models employed in exciting careers,
attend
presentations on a wide variety of empowering topics, view the latest in
technology, and network with dynamic leaders in the field of blindness.
A lot happens at each convention, so this guide is intended to give you an
overview of what you will experience at your first convention. It is
available
in Braille, in large print, and on our website at www.nfb.org.
For many, attendance at that very first convention has become a
life-changing experience. Many hear for the very first time that it is
respectable to be
blind, that carrying a cane is useful and is nothing to be ashamed of, that
Braille is a valuable tool after all, and that much progress is being made
in adaptive technology. Attendees also learn that they are not alone, that
there are others who are facing the same problems they are, and that an
active
and normal life is possible and within their reach.
For more specific details about this year's convention, consult the
convention agenda, the
Braille Monitor,
and the NFB's convention webpage.
For a more personal introduction to your first convention, plan to attend
the Rookie Roundup, usually held in the evening of the very first day of the
gathering. There you will meet your fellow rookies, be welcomed by
Federation leaders (including the President), and get some advice on what to
do and
when to do it from convention veterans. The convention is full of
opportunities to learn, work, play, and network (both formally and
informally). The only
thing you won't get much of at a National Federation of the Blind convention
is sleep!
>From the President
block quote
I am delighted to welcome you to your very first national convention of the
National Federation of the Blind. These pages are a brief overview of our
conventions
and the unique role that they play in the life of our movement. Your
presence at convention is important! Being here means that you are a part of
the largest
gathering of blind people held anywhere in the world. I believe that you can
and will benefit from the strength and knowledge that you will gain from the
many blind people you will meet at the convention, and the National
Federation of the Blind certainly needs your ideas and your voice. I hope
you come
to feel the love, the power, and the unity of purpose this convention brings
to blind people and their families who choose to attend. - NFB President
Mark
A. Riccobono
block quote end
Community and Conduct at Convention
To allow all attendees the chance to benefit from all aspects of the
convention, the National Federation of the Blind is committed to providing a
harassment-free
environment for everyone. We appreciate your assistance in cultivating an
atmosphere in which participants from diverse backgrounds may learn,
network,
and share with each other in an environment of mutual respect. Our
organization is deeply committed to diversity as well as
integrity and respect.
Please contact the Information Desk or notify your state affiliate president
if you need assistance or have questions/concerns. Thank you for doing your
part to contribute to our community and the high expectations we strive to
maintain.
Some Notes about the National Federation of the Blind
A Brief Organizational History
The National Federation of the Blind was established in 1940.
Representatives from seven states gathered in Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania,
for the founding
convention. Those seven states were: California, Illinois, Minnesota,
Missouri, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin.
The founder and first President of the NFB was Dr. Jacobus tenBroek, a blind
lawyer born in Canada but raised primarily in California. While attending
the California School for the Blind, Dr. tenBroek was taught and mentored by
Dr. Newel Perry. Dr. Perry believed that the only way that the blind would
improve their situation, which back then was usually one of poverty and
misery, was to come together in organizations and engage in collective
action.
In the early part of the twentieth century, Dr. Perry himself had organized
the alumni of the California School for the Blind in order to-as he put
it-"escape
defeatism and to achieve normal membership in society."
Dr. tenBroek spent most of his working life in Berkeley teaching at the
University of California. However, in his early career, during a short
teaching
stint at the University of Chicago School of Law, he founded the National
Federation of the Blind.
Today, the National Federation of the Blind has fifty-two affiliates: one in
each of the fifty states, plus the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.
Federation Philosophy
You will probably hear conventioneers discussing what they call "Federation
Philosophy." What they are talking about is the Federation's positive belief
system about blindness. Members of the Federation realized the simple truth
many years ago that blind people are just people who cannot see-we are not
broken sighted people. Blind people are as different as sighted people are;
that is, we are a cross-section of the broader society and, therefore, are
not all alike as some assume. Blindness is a physical characteristic, but it
is not the characteristic that defines us or our future. It is low
expectations
and misconceptions, not blindness itself, that stand between blind people
and our dreams.
Given proper training and opportunity, blind people can and do live the
lives we want. It is respectable to be blind, and, with the right tools and
techniques,
blindness may be reduced to the level of a nuisance or inconvenience. To
combat the low expectations, misconceptions, and stereotypes that are the
true
barriers to achieving our dreams, the blind have organized for the same
reasons other minorities have-to make positive social change through
collective
action. The Federation philosophy provides an overall framework for thinking
about blindness, what it means, and what it doesn't mean. However, it is not
intended to be rigid or dogmatic. As we just said, blind people are
individuals, and we may disagree on any number of things, including how to
handle a
given situation as blind people. What our philosophy does do is give us a
positive way of thinking about our blindness, rather than the negative ways
in
which we have often been conditioned to think about it by society. Rather
than saying that we as blind people can't do something, we try to find ways
that
we can, and to challenge each other, in a loving way, to always push the
envelope and expand the limits of our independence. As you read further,
you'll
discover that, to the extent we need to formulate specific positions about
blindness and the policies related to it, we use a democratic process to
arrive
at these positions.
The National Federation of the Blind also provides encouragement and support
to families with blind children and to people who are losing vision or have
become blind later in life, by bringing them into a network of tens of
thousands of blind people who are living full lives and who can serve as
mentors
and role models. Together, with love, hope, and determination, the members
of the National Federation of the Blind transform dreams into reality.
What is the Function of the National Convention?
The national convention is held once each year in a location chosen by the
President based upon successful negotiations for the needed space. We are
able
to negotiate outstanding room and meeting space rates at hotels with many
dining options, comprehensive room amenities, and first-rate facilities.
While
a lot happens at the convention, it's important to remember that its primary
function is to serve as the governing body for the National Federation of
the Blind. So, while some of the details in the following pages may seem
very technical, it's important for you to understand how the convention
works
as a governing body so that you can fully participate in selecting the
leadership and setting the policy of the organization. At the convention,
national
officers and board members are elected by the general membership, decisions
concerning the organization are made, and policies are set for the following
year or years.
To quote briefly from the NFB Constitution (last revised in 2014):
"The Convention is the supreme authority of the Federation. It is the
legislature of the Federation. As such, it has final authority with respect
to all
issues of policy. Its decisions shall be made after opportunity has been
afforded for full and fair discussion. Delegates and members in attendance
may
participate in all convention discussions as a matter of right. Any member
of the Federation may make or second motions, propose nominations, and serve
on committees; and is eligible for election to office except that only blind
members may be elected to the National Board."
The national convention also has some very practical benefits for attendees.
Those who are new to blindness and parents and teachers of blind children
can meet and learn from successful role models and have their expectations
raised. Friendships are made and renewed, the latest adaptive technology for
the blind is on display, tours of interesting places can be taken in your
spare time (if you have any), and hope for the future is kindled. The
convention
is, in a sense, a large family gathering, and has been described by one
observer as being analogous to an annual meeting of the Scottish clans. This
means,
of course, in addition to the serious business of the convention, there are
lots of opportunities to just have fun.
How Big is the Convention?
NFB national conventions have experienced enormous growth through the years.
There were sixteen representatives from the seven founding states at the
1940
meeting. Just two years later-at a 1942 Des Moines, Iowa, meeting-one
hundred fifty representatives from fifteen state affiliates were on hand.
The convention
first recorded more than one thousand attendees in 1971 in Houston, Texas.
Attendance went over the two thousand mark for the first time in 1988 in
Chicago.
By the convention held in New Orleans in 1997, registration topped more than
three thousand for the first time. Currently, between two thousand eight
hundred
and three thousand three hundred attendees will be present.
The Facilities
As mentioned earlier, the National Federation of the Blind is usually able
to negotiate space and outstanding room rates at top-notch convention hotels
and facilities. This means that you'll have access to a comfortable room
(which you won't spend much time in), plenty of dining options, and
amenities
like fitness centers, swimming pools, and the like. Because we have a big
convention, we need a lot of space, and sometimes navigating it can be
intimidating
at first. That's why your agenda will include a comprehensive description of
the convention facilities and where they're located. In addition, both blind
and sighted volunteers will be present throughout the convention to provide
direction and help you get where you're going, if needed. So grab your cane
or harness up your guide dog, and go out there and enjoy all the convention
has to offer.
The Schedule
The NFB national convention packs an unbelievable number of activities into
six days. Day one includes the parents' seminar, a national orientation and
mobility conference, several technology seminars, and other special meetings
and events as well as the Rookie Roundup. On day two, registration begins
in the morning and the Resolutions Committee convenes in the afternoon. The
agenda also lists other special meetings. On day three, the national board
of directors meeting, which is open to all, occurs in the morning and
various committees, groups, and divisions gather in the afternoon and
evening. Day
four brings the opening of the formal convention, with the roll call of
states in the morning and the Presidential Report and other program items in
the
afternoon. There are more committee and divisional meetings on the evening
of day four. On day five, general convention sessions are held in both the
morning
and the afternoon. Elections are scheduled on this day, as well. Day six is
the last day of convention; the morning and afternoon general sessions are
followed by the annual evening banquet, a convention highlight.
Convention Agenda
The convention agenda is available at registration and can also be obtained
at a number of other locations at the convention site. Moreover, it can be
found on the NFB website at www.nfb.org as soon as it is final, which is
usually about a month before the convention begins. The agenda gives general
information
about the convention, hotel rates, and other hotel information, and it shows
the times and locations of the various meetings and general sessions.
The Presidential Report
One of the major presentations each year is a report delivered by the
national President to the entire convention on the Federation's activities
and progress
during the previous year. All attendees are urged to be present for this
major event, which is usually the first item on the afternoon agenda on day
four.
The President will tell you and your fellow conventioneers about the legal
victories we have won when blind people faced discrimination, the new
programs
and initiatives we've started to help blind people achieve success in all
aspects of life, the ways in which we're making technology more accessible
to
the blind, and more. You'll also hear the stories of individual members who
are living the lives they want.
The Banquet
The annual banquet is the highlight of each convention. It is held on the
final night of the convention.
The banquet features several national award presentations, the scholarship
winners, and a major address by the national President, focusing on our
philosophy
of blindness and designed to inspire us to continue to build the Federation.
Committees, Groups, and Divisions
In addition to the three days of general convention sessions, many smaller
groups affiliated with the NFB hold their annual meetings during the
national
convention. These are groups such as blind students, blind lawyers, parents
and teachers of blind children, blind secretaries, blind businessmen and
women,
blind teachers, blind guide-dog users, blind computer users, blind
rehabilitation professionals, blind seniors, and blind diabetics. These
meetings are
open to all, and you will want to look at the agenda to select those which
might be of interest to you. Attendees are encouraged to attend more than
one
division meeting if they have interest in more than one area. Some of these
committees or divisions collect dues, and some do not.
Registration and Banquet Ticket Purchase
For those who have not pre-registered online, registration starts on day
two. All attendees are requested to register and the outstanding hotel group
rates
are not available to those who do not. In addition, to be eligible for door
prizes you must be registered. An official badge is issued to each
registrant
and should be worn throughout convention week. Banquet tickets for the
banquet held on the final night of convention week are available for
purchase when
you register. Banquet tickets should be purchased as early in the convention
as possible and are not available for purchase after the lunch break on day
four.
The Banquet Ticket Exchange
All convention attendees are encouraged to attend the banquet. When the
convention and banquets were smaller, attendees simply went to the banquet
hall,
waited in line to enter, and found a seat once inside. Now, because more
than two thousand people will be present, a system for reserved seating has
been
developed. Purchase your banquet ticket at the time of registration. Then
you can turn in that ticket to whoever is assigned to get reserved seats for
your affiliate or you can pool your ticket with a group of friends so that
you can all sit together. Your group designee will hand in the tickets at
banquet
exchange, and in return will get the same number of tickets, but now with an
assigned table number. You should get your new ticket from the banquet
exchange
designee and present it at the banquet. If needed, volunteers will help you
find your table, and you can then enjoy the banquet with your Federation
family.
State Delegations in the General Sessions
During the three days of general convention sessions, the meeting hall will
be set up with flags indicating the location of each of the state
affiliates.
The number of seats per delegation is based upon the registration figures.
It's a good idea to sit with your affiliate's delegation. In this way,
people
can be located easily if they are needed. Moreover, official voting
delegates have the membership at hand if they wish to poll the delegation on
voting
issues or if they wish to determine the consensus of their affiliate's
representatives.
How is the Convention Run?
As mentioned earlier, the national convention is the supreme governing
authority of the National Federation of the Blind. Consequently, important
business
must be done at the convention in an orderly and democratic manner. The
following information describes how the convention is run, including how
votes
are taken, how resolutions are considered, and more.
General Sessions
The general sessions consist of program items, reports, panel discussions,
elections, and official votes on policy issues. General convention sessions
customarily are chaired by the Federation President. Floor microphones are
available for comments and questions from the audience when time permits.
Official Voting
Usually, on votes for elections, motions, or for the adoption of resolutions
(see below), the President will call for voice votes. In such cases, it is
usually clear that a vast majority has voted one way or another. However, if
the outcome of a particular vote is not absolutely clear, then the President
will ask for a roll call vote. In the event of a roll call vote, only
official delegates of the affiliates may vote.
In order to be as democratic as it can be in its decision making, the
Federation has decided that each state affiliate will have one vote during a
roll
call vote. At the opening general session, each affiliate names its official
voting delegate and an alternate or alternates in the event that the
official
delegate is absent at the time of a given vote. Then, when a roll call vote
is taken, only the official voting delegates may cast votes. Therefore, a
maximum
of fifty-two official votes may be cast. The secretary keeps the official
tally and announces votes once decisions have been made. The official
delegate
may poll his or her delegation on the question or motion being considered,
which is one reason why it's a good idea to sit with your affiliate's
delegation.
Some have asked why the Federation has not adopted a "one person, one vote"
policy. The concern with this method is that a very few large state
affiliates
could control the outcome on every issue. Therefore, the Federation has
opted to give each state equal representation, as the United States
Constitution
does with respect to the US Senate.
Elections
The Federation has a national board consisting of President, First
Vice-President, Second Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, and twelve
additional board
members, each of whom serve for terms of two years. The five constitutional
officers and six of the twelve board members are elected during national
conventions
in even-numbered years, and the remaining six board members are elected at
conventions during odd-numbered years.
At the roll call of states held on the morning of the first general session,
each affiliate announces its appointee to the Nominating Committee. The
President
then designates one of these nominees to be Chairperson of the Nominating
Committee. This committee then develops its slate of candidates during a
private
meeting, which is closed to the general membership so that free and frank
discussions may be held. Note: This is the only closed Federation meeting at
the national convention.
The actual elections are then held during a designated general session,
usually on the morning of day five. The candidate offered for each position
by
the Nominating Committee is first placed in nomination. The chairperson then
calls for other nominations from the floor. In order to be completely open
and democratic, the Federation has a long-standing policy of calling for
other nominations three times before a motion to close nominations will be
accepted
by the chairperson. In this way, it can never be alleged that a quick vote
has been pushed through without time for other nominations. If no other
nominations
are made, then typically a motion to close nominations and elect the
nominating committee's candidate by acclamation is offered. If other
nominations are
made, then an election is held among the candidates nominated. The
chairperson will usually try to conduct the election by voice vote of the
entire convention,
but in the event that no candidate has a clear majority, then the
chairperson will conduct a roll call vote, in which only the official
delegate for each
affiliate will participate.
It is also long-standing policy that an individual will not stand for
election unless he or she has agreed to run. This policy avoids the problem
of electing
unwilling candidates.
Resolutions
Resolutions are the official policy statements of the organization. Anyone
may offer a resolution. The customary method is to submit a proposed
resolution
to the Chairman of the Resolutions Committee at least two weeks before the
convention. The Resolutions Committee-appointed by the President-holds a
public
meeting on the afternoon of day two of the convention. The resolutions that
have been submitted to the committee chairperson are then considered one at
a time. Typically the committee will allow the proponent of a resolution to
speak in support of it; otherwise, although the meeting is public in order
to maintain full transparency, only members of the committee speak during
deliberations.
After full discussion of each resolution in turn, the committee votes either
to pass or not pass. If the committee passes a particular resolution, then
it comes before the full convention in general session for final action.
This means that there will be several days in which to debate contentious
issues
and to try to politic for favorable votes before final convention action is
taken.
If a resolution is not passed by the committee, it can still be considered
by the convention if its proponent can gather support according to the
following
procedure: if he or she is able to enlist five state affiliates to request
that the resolution be heard, then it will be considered by the entire
convention
on the final meeting day.
Although it is somewhat rare, a resolution may also be brought to the full
convention through the national board of directors. A majority of the
directors
must support the resolution in order to bring it to the floor in this
manner.
Other Things to Know
National Scholarships
The Federation has an outstanding college scholarship program; it awards
thirty national scholarships at each national convention, ranging in value
from
X
12,000. Applications close on March 31 of each year.
As many as five hundred to seven hundred individuals apply for these
scholarships annually. Each spring, the Scholarship Committee meets in
Baltimore,
evaluates the applicants, and offers scholarships to the top thirty
candidates. These thirty scholars attend the national convention, with
assistance from
the NFB. They spend each day with designated mentors.
When the students arrive, they know that they are one of the select thirty.
It is not decided until a meeting of the Scholarship Committee the night
before
the banquet who will receive which of the scholarships.
Generally the students will all receive a scholarship; the only question is
who will receive which scholarship. The winner of the top scholarship is
offered
the opportunity to speak briefly at the banquet.
All blind students residing and attending school in the fifty states, the
District of Columbia, or Puerto Rico are invited to apply for National
Federation
of the Blind scholarships, even if they have previously won. Those who win a
second or subsequent scholarship are called tenBroek Fellows, in honor of
NFB founder Jacobus tenBroek.
Exhibits
There is a major exhibit area at each national convention. This gives
convention goers the opportunity to look over all of the latest adaptive
technology,
to talk with officials from such agencies as the National Library Service
for the Blind and Physically Handicapped or the American Printing House for
the
Blind, and to buy items from exhibitors. Convention attendees are also
invited to browse the NFB's extensive free literature collection on display
as well
as to examine and purchase items from the NFB store, known as the
Independence Market. Because the NFB convention is the largest gathering of
blind people
anywhere in the world, many technology companies and others who provide
products and services to the blind launch new products at our convention, so
you
will probably want to visit the exhibit space and find out what's new and
noteworthy. Near the entrance of the exhibit area, you'll find an
information
table where you can get a print or Braille map of the exhibit hall and a
list of all the exhibitors and their locations.
Exhibits are open during various times throughout much of the convention,
but they are closed for the general convention sessions because all
conventioneers
are encouraged to attend these meetings.
As with other areas of the convention, the growth in the number of
exhibitors through the years has been gratifying. In Atlanta in 2004, the
number of
exhibitors topped one hundred for the first time.
Door Prizes
Significant door prizes are drawn throughout general convention sessions and
at the banquet. To be eligible to win, you must be registered and present
at the meeting where the prize is drawn. Each morning session begins on time
with a drawing for a $100 bill. Similar drawings occur periodically
throughout
general sessions and at the banquet. The grand prize drawn at the banquet is
much larger than the others.
Convention Fundraising
Six different types of fundraising will be discussed during the convention.
These are:
list of 5 items
. The White Cane Fund: A time will be set aside during the Convention when
buckets will be passed through the audience to receive cash donations for
the
White Cane Fund. Affiliates will also make gifts or pledges to this fund.
These dollars go directly to the general treasury of the Federation.
. The Jacobus tenBroek Fund: Donations will also be made to this fund for
the maintenance and upkeep of the NFB Jernigan Institute property. This
property
houses the operations of the NFB and other entities.
. The Kenneth Jernigan Fund: The proceeds from this fund are used to bring a
number of attendees to their first national convention. It is named for Dr.
Jernigan who planned our conventions for more than forty years and who did
so much to make them what they are today.
. The Pre-Authorized Contribution (PAC) Plan: This giving opportunity
enables individuals to make regular financial contributions to support the
programs
and activities of the Federation. The PAC Plan has insured a consistent flow
of monthly income to fund some of the Federation's work. By signing up for
the PAC Plan, a donor agrees to make an automatic monthly contribution to
the Federation; the donation is withdrawn directly from a checking account
or
charged to a credit card. The individual designates how much he or she wants
to contribute each month and specifies a day of the month on which the money
should be withdrawn from the account. To participate in the PAC Plan, the
donor must have a checking account or credit card, complete a PAC Plan card,
sign and turn over a voided check (if the contribution is to be withdrawn
from a checking account), and begin with a monthly donation of at least
X
350,000 and $400,000 each year through this giving opportunity.
. SUN (Shares Unlimited in NFB) Shares: Supporters of the Federation are
also able to make either monthly or annual donations for SUN Shares. These
funds
are being set aside in the event that they are needed to support the
Federation during difficult times.
list end
Guide Dog Relief Area
In order to accommodate blind guide-dog users at the national convention,
arrangements are made each year to construct a special facility where the
dogs
may be taken to relieve themselves. This special area is refreshed several
times each day.
Representatives of the Guide Dog Committee are available to show first-time
convention goers where to take their animals and to assist in learning
individual
clean-up practices. Dog users are expected to use these special facilities
rather than to permit their animals to relieve themselves in the streets or
on other hotel property.
Services for Spanish Speaking Individuals
All the general sessions and the banquet proceedings are translated by
volunteers for attendees who speak Spanish. Small receivers may be borrowed
to listen
to the audio transmission. A Hispanic Seminar and a Spanish Translation
Committee meeting also take place during convention.
Requests for Accommodations Based on Disability
The convention of the National Federation of the Blind is designed and
implemented to be accessible especially to blind people in that materials
are offered
in accessible formats and other nonvisual aids are provided (therefore
special requests for these items are not required). If you require specific
accommodations
based on your disability other than the blindness-related accommodations
mentioned above in order to participate fully and equally in the Convention,
we
urge you to let us know as soon as possible. Specific accommodations for
which requests are required include requests for deaf or deaf-blind
interpreters.
Due to the size and complexity of this convention, as well as the need to
appropriately plan for additional human and other resources, requests for
specific
accommodations must be submitted to jerniganinstitute at nfb.org no later than
May 31, of the convention year.
Small receivers are available for the hearing impaired to receive direct
transmissions from the public address system. For those who may be totally
deaf
and use a deaf-blind communication device for interpreting, volunteers are
present to translate the general session and the banquet proceedings. The
Deaf-Blind
Division also holds a seminar and a business meeting during convention.
Who Attends the Convention?
Attendees may be long-time convention goers, the newly blinded, parents and
teachers of blind children, blindness professionals who are interested in
becoming
more knowledgeable about blindness, adaptive-technology providers, and
family members of people who are blind. Most attendees are from the United
States,
although each year there are foreign visitors from as many as twenty other
countries.
A Life-Changing Experience
For many, attendance at that very first convention has become a
life-changing experience. Many hear for the very first time that it is
respectable to be
blind, that carrying a cane is useful and is nothing to be ashamed of, that
Braille is a valuable tool after all, and that much progress is being made
in adaptive technology. Attendees also learn that they are not alone, that
there are others who are facing the same problems they are, and that an
active
and normal life is possible and within their reach. Some learn for the first
time that there are orientation and adjustment centers where blind people
can be sent by their rehabilitation counselors to learn the skills of
blindness and the positive attitudes which lead to personal empowerment.
We hope that by attending our convention your expectations of yourself are
raised, so that blindness is no longer the characteristic that defines you
or
your future, and that low expectations no longer stand between you and your
dreams. We want you to become empowered to live the life you want.
The President's Wrap-Up
block quote
I hope this information has been helpful to you and that it has given you a
sense of the significant role the national convention plays in the life of
the NFB. I also hope your interest has been piqued and that you will
continue to be an active member of our movement via your local chapter and
state affiliate.
Let this convention experience mark the first of many others in your life.
We need your voice and your talents. Working together, with love, hope, and
determination, we will continue to make a difference in the lives of blind
people everywhere and transform our dreams into reality. - NFB President
Mark
A. Riccobono
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://nfbnet.org/pipermail/nfboh-cleveland_nfbnet.org/attachments/20230421/dd72b528/attachment.html>
More information about the NFBOH-Cleveland
mailing list